Talanyr (Tal-aen-ear)
This article is a part of Summer Camp 2023 and is still a work in progress.The Talanyr are a native equine type species to Bajy Ridi's Landing in the Ortasto System. Compared by the original settlers of the planet to the Old Terran mustang, they are a hardy species that is protected by laws laid down early on the planet during its settlement. Settlers of Bajy Ridi deliberately hired the same team of biologists who had discovered Flitters on Desand to observe the Talanyrs and their normal living grounds and patterns. Aaron Howards, one of the original members of the team, was the lead on the team despite his age at the time and his sketches of Talanyrs allowed biologists to figure out a lot about the species. Especially since the team was not allowed to capture one for observation as they were already declared protected by the fledgling Bajy Ridi government. These observations that were made by the team allowed the government to lay down concrete lines for where cities and other settlements could be made on the planet so as to not interrupt the lives of the Talanyr.
The Talan Lands
Many of the wild, golden plains of Bajy Ridi's Landing are those that have been set aside for the Talanyr. Nicknamed the Talan Lands by an accidental shorthand note from one of the observation team, they take up wide swaths of the land but are generally most empty of human population anyway. Given frequent high winds on the planet, most of the human population lives in cities carved into the mountains of the planet.Physical Characteristics
Although they closely resemble the Old Terran mustang, the Talanyr are by no means a normal equine. Size wise they are generally more on par with the height of an Old Terran pony. The frequent comparison with the mustang mostly comes from their general body build (thick, hardy body with muscled legs) over anything else. Beyond the body type, the comparison to any Old Terran equine drops away. Firstly, the most recognizable featured of the Talanyr are the sloping horns that grow from the back of their skull. Although no biologist has gotten close to observe a living specimen, they have gathered and analyzed several skeletons over the years. Secondly, unlike the Old Terran equine, the Talanyr have a cloven hoof more akin to a goat or deer. It was originally merely theory that they might be able to climb like goats because of the makeup of their hooves but this was not proven until a band of them in the southern part of the main continent was closely observed for some time. Thirdly, the Talanyr tail is not fully hair like an Old Terran equine but is instead an amalgamation between a more fleshy tail that would be found on a reptilian creature. The final feature of the Talanyr is their exceptionally thick skin. Like most creatures that are natural inhabitants of Bajy Ridi's Landing, they have adapted to be semi-immune to the high winds that frequent hammer the landscape. Although the fiercest winds can still cut through their outermost skin (the highest level winds on the planet capped out at the same force as an CAT 5 hurricane according to the team that originally observed the Talanyr), it still is not capable of entirely cutting through them. The Talanyr have, however, been observed hunkering down on the ground in massive groups in order to ride out the highest level winds, with the adults protecting the younger who don't quiet yet have their thick skin fully developed.Credits: Art was created by Terion.
Sketch of a Talanyr and close observations of some their bodily makeup by Aaron Howards.
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